BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — It has been nearly 10 months since Downton Abbey last aired a new episode. Downton Abbey devotees in the colonies are still reeling over the death of handsome, honourable, new father Matthew Crawley, who died at the wheel of his car at the very end of Downton’s third-season finale.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — The heckling started early, from the back of the room, where the white wine flowed a little too freely and a handful of Downton Abbey enthusiasts were getting a little too enthusiastic at seeing Lady Mary, Lady Edith, Anna Bates, Mrs.